Why is upskilling necessary for the rural youth?
- Recently, at a group discussion held by Life Skills Collaborative, most of the rural youth said they preferred staying in their village.
- The UN projects that almost 50% of the Indian population will be living in urban areas by 2047.
- So, it is crucial to recognize and support those who choose to stay in villages amidst urbanization trends.
Main Source of Rural Income
- Farming is the main source of rural livelihoods, with children from many rural families supplementing their family’s income by working on family-owned farms.
- However, the rural economy is experiencing a major occupational shift from agriculture to non-farming jobs, leading to an agrarian crisis.
- The National Sample Survey Office data recorded 34 million farmers leaving their farms and transitioning to other sectors during 2004-05 and 2011-12.
- There is a need to make agriculture an aspiring vocation among rural youth, and also create alternative employment opportunities.
Controlling Migration: Vocational Training
- Vocational training should be provided to students to imbibe relevant rural skills in them so that they can secure a living where they currently live.
- Most students’ educational/employment aspirations were limited to choices that were available within the vicinity of their villages.
- Upskilling opportunities similar to the Delhi government’s ‘Skills On Wheel’ initiative must be brought to students’ doorsteps.
Current Vocational Education Landscape
- It is interspersed with Industrial Training Institutes to upskill rural populations, but with few placement opportunities.
- The rural education focuses minimally on skill development, impacting youth's access to life skills.
- The LSC Voices 2023 survey revealed low participation in vocational training.
- Two thirds of youth aged between 19 and 22 had never taken any kind of vocational training with only 5% of them enrolled in these courses.
- Rural life skills should be integrated into formal education to nurture a capable and thriving generation.
Improving Education
- Effective rural education should be tailored to make technical and life skills accessible.
- This can be done through Mexico’s tele-schools and Bhutan’s well-being-infused curriculum.
- The tele-schools provide lessons on subject matters as well as values.
- This led to trickling benefits in the local economy with improved attitudes and increased aspirations among children and parents.
Several Initiatives
- NIIT Foundation and Pratham Institute are working with children in rural areas to provide upskilling opportunities.
- Hybrid life skilling programs, including industry-specific skills (healthcare, electrical, construction) and general life skills have been offered.
E-learning for Rural Employability
- Introduction of e-learning programs in agricultural mechanisation, pollution monitoring, nursing, and digital technologies is recommended.
- It has the potential to enhance employability in both traditional and non-traditional trades, fostering a vibrant rural economy.